Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: RYALS, MEGAN ELIZABETH. The Transition from Advanced Placement to College Calculus: Factors Influencing Success. (Under the direction of Karen Allen Keene).Calculus is a gateway to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), so as the need for STEM majors in the United States grows, so does the need for more students to successfully navigate calculus.Additionally, an increasing number of students are taking calculus in high school (in the Advanced Placement program), and this has resulted in an increase of students repeating calculus in college.This study explores the impact of the AP calculus experience on success in college calculus by identifying factors of success in both environments and how the two experiences compare.Concurrent student interviews and test analyses were used to determine the factors of success in calculus and the challenges students encounter on calculus tests.Fourteen firstsemester college students who were enrolled in calculus I in college and had taken AP calculus participated in interviews that were part semi-structured and part task-based.Six AP and six college calculus instructors provided tests and other course materials that were analyzed for multiple problem formats and required reasoning type.Results reveal that students who have taken AP calculus enter calculus I in college with a strong sense of confidence about their understanding of calculus.This can decrease students' study motivation, but that may not be detrimental to students with a strong background in calculus from their AP course.For others, high study motivation and strong study skills and habits is essential and can be a deciding factor in the student's success.Students report that their study motivation is increased by high course structure and accountability and strong relationships with instructors and other students.Other findings suggest that both AP calculus and college calculus tests are strongly dominated by problems that may be solved using imitative reasoning.There is no evidence to suggest that college calculus tests require more creative mathematical reasoning than AP tests.However, test problems in college calculus are more likely to require explanations or showing work and utilize different problem representations and function types than do problems in AP calculus.
Author: Megan Elizabeth Ryals
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1274646872